Expert Tips For Packing Your Travel Beauty Bag

We’ve all been there. Your whole vacation is planned out perfectly. But then it comes down to actually having to pack for said vacation and you suddenly are sent into a frenzy trying to decide which products actually make the cut. To help calm all of your packing woes, we chatted with Hitha Palepu, travel expert and brains behind Hitha on the Go. Read on for her best packing tips!

How did you decide what your essential travel beauty items are? Do you have any secret favorites you can share with us?

What’s the best way to avoid spills without adding the bulk of Ziploc bags?

“First, ditch the plastic bag. Invest in a sturdy zippered quart-sized bag that is an inch or so thick. Not only will you fill more products in that bag, you’ll never have to worry about any spills escaping the bag to your other belongings. I try to avoid refillable bottles and invest in travel-sized versions of my favorite products, which are less likely to leak. The best refillable bottles are actually empty prescription bottles— totally leak-proof and you probably have a few in your medicine cabinet at home!”

What are the best sites or brands for purchasing travel cosmetic cases?

“I begin the packing process a week before my trip: writing out a list, [doing] laundry or dry cleaning, restocking toiletries. The actual packing happens the night before. The day of the trip, I pack my makeup as I’m applying it and toss it in my suitcase and away we go!”

“My Hudson+Bleecker makeup bags are lightly padded. Since I’ve started using them, my compacts have never shattered (knocks on wood)!”

Do you pack your toiletries and cosmetics based on where you’re headed, or do you have a go-to kit?

“My basic toiletries (face, dental, eye, and skincare) are always pre-packed in my liquids bag and a Hudson+Bleecker dopp kit (for non-liquid products). I’ll make a note of trip-specific products (sunscreen for a beach, a thick face cream for cold destinations) when I’m writing my packing list and pack them the night before. With makeup, I pack my bag as I’m applying it and will select products that are suited for my destination and the type of trip.”

We heard you have a book coming out soon! Can you tell us a little bit about it?

“Yes! My book, How To Pack, will be coming out February 2017. I’ll be sharing my entire packing method, from selecting the perfect products and pre-packing like a pro. There will also be my handpicked items for specific trips and destinations. It’s also one of the prettiest books I’ve ever seen, with stunning illustrations and really nice paper. But I may be a bit biased.”

How has co-founding Bridge2Act given you new insights to traveling? (Bridge2Act is a digital platform that streamlines charitable donations.)

“In working with our charity partners, I’m getting a look at the world that I’ve never experienced for myself. What’s necessary for visiting rural villages in Africa is very different than what I had packed for a typical business meeting. What amazes me is how efficiently these founders and executive directors pack, and how they always leave room for gifts to the sites they’re visiting.”

Any last advice for women on how to figure out their travel beauty must haves?

“First, take note of your daily beauty routine. What products do you have to use? What are products that you can swap out easily? Are there liquidless swaps (solids, towelettes) that you can make for products you’re not obsessed with? Ditch the baggie and purchase a nice zippered quart-sized bag that you love. Your suitcase is your home away from home, and packing familiar products is a great way to feel grounded when you’re on the go.”

8 thoughts on “Expert Tips For Packing Your Travel Beauty Bag”

Thanks Karen for following my blog and liking my post on Nashville . This post is very timely . God willing , going to Vegas in June and I always have problems packing make up . Thanks again . Happy blogging .

This is excellent! I think it’s a really good idea to bring along coconut oil. It’s such a multitasker! If I’m traveling to go on vacation like the beach or somewhere, I’d probably only bring: Moisturizer, sunscreen, BB cream, under eye concealer, tinted brow gel, waterproof mascara, tinted lip balm, and liquid highlighter. Also my Essence eyeliner pen. It’s so good and effective but only $2 so i won’t mind if it gets ruined or lost during the trip. That way I can throw on a cat eye for dinner or something without the hassle. For skincare I’d probably bring quite a deal more, because I’m pretty obsessed with skincare and I use sooo many products.